NC misleading state, centre: PDP

Opposition PDP in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday accused the ruling National Conference of taking both the Centre and the state for a 'ride', saying confusing signals from authorities on troop reduction has made people suspicious about efforts to resolve the Kashmir problem.

Opposition PDP in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday accused the ruling National Conference of taking both the Centre and the state for a 'ride', saying confusing signals from authorities on troop reduction has made people suspicious about efforts to resolve the Kashmir problem.

"The confusing signals emerging from different authorities led the people to the sad conclusion that all pronouncements about finding a lasting solution were only an eyewash," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said while leading a protest rally in south Kashmir Anantnag district.

She said this impression could be highly dangerous in a regional atmosphere that has been defying all attempts at stability. "Please don't push the youth to the wall again," she pleaded.

Barring Srinagar and Shopian district headquarters, PDP orgainsed protest rallies at all district headquarters in the Valley to press for its demands including revocation of AFSPA, withdrawal of troops from civilian areas, punishment to security personnel guilty of killing youth during the summer unrest and continued efforts for resolution of Kashmir issue.

Urging the Centre to display more trust in the people of the state, Mehbooba said, "NC has been able to take both the Centre and the people of the state for a ride."

She claimed that National Conference had always been uncomfortable with mainstream political opposition and had developed a vested interest in perpetuating trouble and instability in the state.

The PDP president said the NC gets nervous with any competition within the democratic space and schemed to retain power by pushing people out of the system to have a monopoly over the power structure.

The party will fight tooth and nail the policy of repression that the NC is pursuing with the sole aim of driving the youth to separatism, she said.

"We will fully utilize the democratic space for securing the rights of the people including the fundamental question of resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," she said daring the government to stop the PDP.

Mehbooba said the NC government was in no position to demand reduction of troops or revocation of AFSPA as it was completely dependant on official repression for its survival.

"With what moral authority can this party demand reduction in troops after it called in more (troops) only a few months back and even begged the Army to take over the situation?" she asked.